Interlocking signaling



Sept. 27, 19 y L. H. PETER ET AL 1,880,039

INTERLOCK ING SIGNALING Original Filed Feb. ,21, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS! a L,H.Peter, qhd

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INITERLOCKING SIGNALING Original Filed 21. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRS" A.H.Peter', w( Wfi.Peafc'e,

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Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES resume PATENr entice KINGS onoss, LoNnoN, ENGLAND, As- U IoN swrron & sreNAL ooMrANY, or

OF PENNSYLVANIA INTERLOGKING SIGNALING Application filed February 21, 1930, Serial No. 430,223, and in Great Britain January 22, 1932.

This invention relates to interlocking apparatus for railway point and signal levers of the kind in which the interlocking action is efiected electrically instead of mechanically and has for its object to provide improved apparatus of this character.

According to the principal feature of the invention the point or signal lever is provided with an electrically released lock which is adapted to arrest the movement of the lever from one or other of its extreme positions when the lever has been moved to a position separated from the extreme position by a relatively small fraction only of the total stroke or travel of the lever, or the lock is adapted to retain the lever in the extreme position even when the usual catch handle has been actuated, this initial action being insulficient to effect any change in the setting of the points or signal. The arrival of the lever at this point of arrest or the actuation of the catch handle is arranged to cause the closure of contacts included in the circuit of the electrically released lock, this circuit also including contacts arranged to be closed only when other point or signal levers to be interlocked with the lever are in their appropriate extreme positions. 7 p

The initial movement of the lever or catch handle will evidently enable the operator to test whether the desired movement of the lever is permitted by the setting of the other interlocking levers without afi'ecting the circuits controlled by these other levers and the corresponding point setting or signal indications while the actual effective lever movement is only permitted provided that the interlocking conditions are favorable to the de- 7 sired movement of the lever.

It will thus be seen that the circuit of the electrically released lock is normally de-energized and is only completed at the end of the initial movement of the lever or the movement of the catch handle provided that the interlocking levers are all in their full ex treme positions so that security against a simultaneous attempt to move two conflicting levers is afforded.

In point and signal interlocking apparatus as generally constructed, the point and sig- March 15, 1929, Renewed nal levers are associated with recessed looking bars with which electric locks are arranged to cooperate, these locks being arranged to be energized so as to release the locking bar and permit movement of the corresponding lever only when conditions are suchthat the operation of the said lever may be safely permitted and according to a further feature of the present invention the locking elements of the electric locks cooperating with the recesses in the locking bar are arranged to be out of contact with the locking bar while in their effective or looking positions so that shocks transmitted to the lock- 7 ing bar, for example owing to the operation of one electric lock, shall not be transmitted to other electric locks associated with the apparatus and cause their release.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings as applied to the point and signal lever mechanism for controlling trafic .between a main line and a siding Figure 1 being a diagrammatic view showing the points and signals involved. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the interlocking'contacts of the point and signal levers, Figure 8 illustrating the several positions to which these levers may beset. F igure 4 is a view in side elevation of a single lever and a portion of its associated interlocking mechanism.

Referring now first to Figure 1, a sect-ion of a main line railway track is indicated at MM as connected with a siding SS by a crossover O. Thelatter is provided at each end with the usual power operated points 1, a signal 2 being provided for controlling traffic from the siding S-S to .the main line MM, a signal 3 controlling traffic from the main line to the siding. Each of the signals 2, '3 is shown as being of the light type comprising a red or stop lamp 1" and a green or proceed lamp 9. The setting of the points 1 is arranged to be controlled bya point lever L1 the setting of the signals 2 and 3 being controlled by signal levers L2 and L3 respectively.

Each of the levers L1, L2, L3 is adapted to be set into a number of different positions as shown in Figure 3, the extreme positions N,

B being the usual normal and reverse positions of the lever and the positions D, B, the usual indication positions in which further movement of the lever from the position N to R and R to N respectively is. arrested by the usual check locking mechanism (not shown).

In addition to these usual lever positions each of the levers L1, L2, and L3 is adapted to be set into additional positions indicated at A, E in Figure 3 which are separated from the positions N, It respectively by a relatively small fraction of the total stroke of the lever. The latter is provided as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 with an electrically released lock P1, P2, P3 adapted to arrest the movement of the lever at the positions A, E above referred to until the energizing coils K1, K2, K3 of the locks are energizedthe locks shown in Figure? being adapted to arrest the movement of the levers L1, L2, L3

in this manner at the position A in moving the lever from its N position towards its R position. f

The operation of the apparatus is as fol: lows Assuming that the levers L1, L2, L3 are all in their N positions as shown in Fig. 2 so that the points 1, 1, are in their normal position for main line traffic it will be seen that the signals- 2 and 3 both indicate stop. The circuit for the lamp 7 of signal 2 is completed from the terminal't of a source of current through lamp 7', contact 5 (closed as inclicated in the N-B positions of lever L2) to Y the other terminal 6. The circuit for the lamp 1" of signal 3 is similarly completed from the terminal 7 through contact 8 of lever L3 and lamp 1" to the terminal 9. It now it is desired to permit the movement of a train from the siding SS to the main line M-M, the signalman will first set the points 1 to their reverse position by moving the lever L1 to its It position, this movement being effected subject to the usual interlocking con-. trol by the levers for the main line signals (not shown). The signal lever L2 will then be operated to set the signal 2 to proceed and the initial part of the movement of this lever from its N towards its It position can evidently be effected without interrupting the circuit of the lamp r of the signal 2. As soon'as the lever L2 attains its A position its further movement is arrested by the lock P2 unless the coil K2 of thislock is energized. It will be observed that the circuit of the coil K2 is from the terminal 10, through the coil K2 lever contact 11 (closed only when the lever is in its A position) Contact 12 of lever L1 which is closed only when this lever is in its It position, contact 13 of lever L3 which is In order to move the signal lever L2 beyond its A position it is thus essential that the lever that the points are fully set and that lever L3 should be in its full normal position so that the signal 3 is giving a stop indication. If these conditions obtain the lock P2 is released and the lever L2 can be moved to its R position to set the signal 2 to proceed, but otherwise the lever L2 will be arrested at its A position as above explained. Similarly it with the points 1, 1 in their reverse positions it is desired to permit a train to pass from the line MM to the siding S-S past the signal 3, the signal lever L3 will be operated and the movement of this lever from its N position towards its R position will be arrested at the A position of the lever by the lock P3 unless the coil K3 of this look is energized. The circuit 01": the coil K3 includes a contact 15 on the lever L2 which is closed only when the lever L2 is in its N position, a con: tact 16 on the lever L1 which is closed only when this lever is in its R position in addition to a contact 17 which is closed when the lever L3 reaches its A position.

It will be apparent that if while the lever L2 is in its R position an attempt is made to 7 move the lever L3 towards its R position the movement of the lever L3 will be arrested at its A position so that the signalman is notified that the operation of the signal 3 is not permissible. It will be further observed that the movement of the signal lever L3 from its N position to its A position does not affect the circuit of the proceed lamp 9 of the signal 2 since this circuit includes a contact 18 which is closed during the movement of the lever L3 from its N position to its A position. The signalman can thus test whether one signal can be set to proceed without altering the in dication of the other signal.

Vhen thesignalman desires to return the points 1, 1 to their normal position he will move the lever L1 from its R position towards its N position and as soon as this lever attains its E position the movement of the lever is arrested by the lock P1 unless the circuit ofthe lock coil K1 is energized. It will be observed that this circuit includes, in addition to a contact 19 on the lever L1 which is closed when the lever reaches its E position, contacts 20 and 21 on the levers L2 and L3 retesting Whether the points can be returned to normal, can be moved from its R position to its E position .without interrupting the proceed signal circuit including the contacts 22 or 23.

It will be understood that in the case of certain levers the movement of the lever from both its N and R positions may be arranged to be arrested at the A and E positions unless suitable interlocking conditions obtain, by the provision of locks for each direction of movement.

Referring now to Figure 4 it will be seen that the lever L2 is arranged to be mechanically coupled to a vertical shaft or spindle 24 on which the lever contacts 25 are mounted and since the A and E positions of the lever are in addition to the ordinary positions N, B, D, R the lever is preferably coupled to the spindle 2a through bevel gearing 26 adapted to cause the spindle 24; to be rotated through an arc of say 120 as the lever is rocked through its full stroke of 60,

The lever L2 is provided with the usual catch handle 27 and is pivotally connected to a locking bar 28 having a notch or recess 29 the length of which corresponds to the travel of the lever L2 from the N position in which it is shown to its A position. The locking ele ment for the lever is constituted by a member 30 normally occupying a position within the recess 29 so as to limit the permissible movement of the lever to the positions N to A. The lock member 30 is adapted to be raised out of the recess 29 when the lock coil K2 is energized by means of a rod 31 connected to the armature 32 of the lock magnet.

As shown in Figure 4 the locking bar 28 may be provided with another recess 33 controlling the movement of the lever K2 from its R position to its E position.

In order to prevent any shocks transmitted to the locking bar 28, by the operation of one of the electrically released locks for example, for afiecting or even releasing another look associated with the locking bar the lock member 30 is arranged even when in its locking position to be out of engagement with the base of the corresponding recess 29.

It will be understood that in another form of the invention in which the actuation of the catch handle on the point or signal lever is utilized, the catch handle 27 may be arranged to move the contact spindle 2st from its N position to its A position or from the R position to the E position, the lever itself remaining during this movement of the contact shaft 24 in its usual N and R positions respectively.

The arrangements above described may be further modified in such a manner that the contacts to be closed when the point or signal lever is in its extreme normal or reverse positions are only actually closed when a mechanical latch or lock cooperating with or acting upon the electrically released lock is operative so that these contacts will not be closed unless the lever is in its full extreme position, and is locked therein by the action of the electrically released lock and of the niachanical lock associated therewith.

The invention has been described more particularly with reference to a simple system consisting of a siding from a main line but it will be evident that the invention may be applied with considerable advantage to any combination of signals and points as may be desired to suit particular requirements.

It will be evident that the/invention is not limited to the particular constructions and arrangement of parts illustrated and described which may be varied as desired to suit particular requirements without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature ofour said invention, and in what manner formed, we declare that what we claim is 1. In combination, a railway traflic governing device, a second railway traffic governing device, a manually operable lever having a normal and a reverse extreme position and an intermediate position, asecond manually operable lever having a normal and a reverse position for controlling said second traific governing device, an electric lock which when deenergized arrests at said intermediate position an operation of said first leverfrom one of its said extreme positions toward the other, a contact controlled by saidfirst lever and arranged to be closed when and only when said first lever occupies said intermediate position, a second contact controlled by said second leverand arranged to be closed when and only when said second lever occupies one or the other of its normal and reverse positions, a control circuit for said electric lock including said first and second contacts in series, and means con-' trolled by said first lever for controlling said first trafiic governing device.

2. In combination, a railway track switch having a normaland a reverse position, a signal comprising a proceed lampand a stop lamp for governing traffic movements over-said switch, a manually operable switch lever having an intermediate position as well as a normal and a reverse extreme position for controlling movements of said switch to itsnormal and reverse positions respectively, a manually operable signal lever having a normal and a reverse extremeposition and anfintermediate position, an electric lock which when deenergized arrests movements of said switch lever at its intermediate posi tion, a secondelectric lock which when deenergized arrests movements of said signal lever atits intermediate position, a contact controlled by said switch lever to be closed when and only when said switch lever is in its'intermediat e position, a second contact controlled by saidswitch lever tobe closed when and only when said switch is in'one or the otlierof its extreme positions, a third contact controlled by said switch'lever to be closed when said switch leveris in the same extreme position or its intermediate position or is between these two positions, a fourth the same is to be percontact controlled by said signal lever to be closed when and only when said signal lever is in its intermediate position, a fifth contact controlled by said signal lever to be closed when and only when said signal lever is in its normal position, a sixth contact controlled by said signal lever to be closed when said signal lever is in its normal or intermediate positions or is between these two positions, a seventh contact controlled by said signal lever to be closed when said signal lever is in its reverse position, a circuit including said first and fifth contacts for controlling said switch lever look, a circuit including said second and fourth contacts for controlling said signal lever lock, a circuit including said third and seventh-contacts for controlling said proceed lamp, and a circuit including said sixth contact for controlling said stop lamp. Y

3. In combination, a railway track switch having a normal and a reverse position, a signal for governing trafiic movements over said switch, a switch lever having an intermediate position as well as a normal and a reverse extreme position for controlling movements of said switch'to its normal and reverse positions respectively, a signal lever having an intermediate position as well as a normal and a reverse extreme position, an electric lock which when deenergized arrests movements of said switch lever at its intermediate position, a second electric lock which when deenergized arrests movements of said signal lever at its intermediate position, means for energizing said first look only if said switch lever is in its intermediate position when said signal lever is in its normal position, means for energizing said second lock only it said signal lever is in its intermediate position when said switch lever is in one of its extreme positions, and means controlled by said signal lever for controlling said signal.

4. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for governing traific movements into said stretch, a second signal for governing trafiic movements into said stretch, a first and a second signal lever for said signals respectively each of which has an intermediate position as well as a normal and a reverse extreme position, an electrical instrument for'each of said levers which when deenergized arrests at its intermediate position a movement of its lever from the normal to the reverse position, means for energizing each of saidinstruments only if its lever is moved to its intermediate position and if the other lever is in the normal position, and means controlled by each of said levers when in its reverse position for causing its signal to indicate proceed.

5. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a signal for governing tratfic movements into said stretch, a second signal for,

governing trafiic movements into said stretch, a signal lever for said first signal and a second signal lever for said second signal each of which has an intermediate position as well as a normal and a reverse extreme position, an electrical device for each of said levers which when deenergized arrests at the intermediate position a movement of its lever from the normal to the reverse position,

means for energizing each of said devices tures. LESLIE H. PETER. V

WALTER A. PEAR-CE. 

